Healthcare (Mental Health)

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 221: HEALTH SERVICES: Provides relative to ambulance providers. (8/1/26) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 221 establishes that "treatment-in-place" services - where ambulance providers assess and treat patients at the scene of a 911 call without transporting them - must be covered under Louisiana's Medicaid program (medical assistance program). Ambulance providers (excluding air ambulance services) will be reimbursed at existing Medicaid fee schedule rates for these services, without requiring real-time video or audio communication with a doctor for reimbursement. The bill mandates that such services follow medical protocols and the provider's scope of practice, while the Louisiana Department of Health will create implementing rules. This directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries receiving non-transport emergency care and ambulance providers who serve them.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates Medicaid coverage for ambulance treatment-in-place services, expanding access to non-transport care and requiring reimbursement at existing rates without restrictive communication requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals Medicaid Mental Health Tags Public Safety

signed · Louisiana · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 222: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Provides for Medicaid behavioral health services. (gov sig) (EN NO IMPACT See Note)

SB 222 streamlines Medicaid behavioral health services in Louisiana by removing unnecessary administrative barriers for providers. It prohibits requiring pre-employment reference letters (§302), eliminates most CPR/first aid certification demands for staff (§303), aligns documentation timelines with federal standards (§305), and allows physician assistants with specific experience to serve as medical directors (§307). The bill also requires the state to seek federal approval for telehealth reimbursement of psychosocial services by July 2026 (§308). These changes directly affect Medicaid behavioral health providers, aiming to reduce duplication and expand workforce flexibility while maintaining care quality.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRemoves administrative barriers for Medicaid behavioral health providers, improving access to mental health services and aligning with federal standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health Telehealth

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 245: MENTAL HEALTH: Provides relative to treatments for veterans. (8/1/26) (OR SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

SB 245 requires the Louisiana Department of Health to create a comprehensive veteran suicide prevention plan by January 1, 2027. The plan must connect veterans to ongoing, barrier-free mental health care and use non-traditional methods to rapidly address PTSD symptoms. It directly affects Louisiana veterans by mandating a state-led strategy focused on preventing suicide through collaborative, accessible services. The bill does not change existing laws but sets a deadline for the Department of Health to develop this specific prevention framework.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates state plan for veteran mental health access and suicide prevention, expanding barrier-free care services per bill's requirements.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransMandates state suicide prevention plan with barrier-free mental health care for veterans, directly advancing healthcare access per bill's requirement for comprehensive veteran mental health strategy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Veteran Healthcare Veteran Housing Veteran Mental Health

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signed · Louisiana · Senate May 22, 2026

SB 255: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Provides relative to psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services. (8/1/26)

SB 255 requires Medicaid-funded behavioral health providers in Louisiana to ensure staff delivering psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) services hold at least a bachelor's degree in specific fields like counseling, social work, or psychology. This affects all licensed providers seeking Medicaid reimbursement for PSR services. The bill mandates these educational qualifications as a condition for continued reimbursement, updating existing Medicaid eligibility rules. The measure is pending legislative review and would not take effect until enacted.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates higher qualifications for PSR services, enhancing rehabilitation quality to reduce recidivism - aligns with criminal justice reform goals of improving rehabilitation programs.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires bachelor's degrees for PSR staff to maintain Medicaid reimbursement, strengthening mental health service quality standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

signed · Louisiana · House May 22, 2026

HB 676: CRIME: Creates the crime of fraudulent patient referrals or "body brokering" (EN SEE FISC NOTE GF EX)

HB 676 prohibits paying or receiving money for referring patients to substance abuse, mental health, or substance use disorder treatment facilities, defining this practice as "body brokering." It bans kickbacks tied to referral volume, treatment duration, or service type, but allows fixed payments unrelated to these factors. Violators face up to 5 years in prison, $50,000 fines, license suspension, or civil penalties. The law directly affects health care providers, facilities, and entities involved in patient referrals for substance use disorder treatment.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBans kickbacks for mental health/substance use referrals, preventing fraud and protecting patient care integrity in healthcare services.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Substance Abuse

passed · Louisiana · Senate Mar 30, 2026

SB 168: BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Provides relative to the Addictive Disorder Regulatory Authority. (2/3CA7s2.1(A)) (8/1/26) (OR INCREASE SG EX See Note)

SB 168 amends Louisiana's regulatory framework for addiction counseling by defining key terms and establishing new credentialing pathways for peer support specialists. It creates specific roles like "peer support specialist associates" and "supervisors," outlines their scope of practice (non-clinical support based on lived experience), and clarifies that peer services complement, but do not replace, clinical treatment. The bill also defines "addictive disorder," "behavioral health condition," and "core functions" (e.g., screening, assessment, case management) for addiction counselors. This procedural bill focuses on regulatory structure rather than direct service changes and is currently pending referral to the Health and Welfare Committee.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates credentialing pathways for peer support specialists in behavioral health, expanding non-clinical support services that complement clinical treatment per bill's scope.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Mental Health Substance Abuse

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signed · Louisiana · House Jun 3, 2026

HB 740: MEDICAID MANAGED CARE: Provides for independent claims review of Coordinated System of Care providers

HB 740 creates an independent review process for Medicaid claims related to the Coordinated System of Care (CSoC) program in Louisiana. It directly affects behavioral health providers and families enrolled in CSoC, which serves youth with significant behavioral health challenges who are in or at risk of out-of-home placement. The bill establishes that claims denials for CSoC services must undergo review by an independent third party, rather than being handled under the standard Medicaid managed care process. This change ensures CSoC-specific claims get specialized review, addressing gaps in the current system for this vulnerable population.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareCreates independent claims review for Medicaid behavioral health services, preventing arbitrary denials and improving access for youth with mental health needs under CSoC program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid Mental Health

in committee · Louisiana · Senate Mar 9, 2026

SB 5: MENTAL HEALTH: Provides for the regulation of mental health chatbots that use artificial intelligence technology. (gov sig)

SB 5 regulates artificial intelligence mental health chatbots operating in Louisiana. It requires operators to clearly disclose upfront that the chatbot is AI (not human), provide crisis protocols for suicidal thoughts or self-harm (e.g., connecting to hotlines), and prohibit sharing users' personal health data without consent. The bill also bans using user input to target ads for products/services (except for the chatbot itself) and restricts in-chat advertising without clear disclosure of sponsorships. These rules apply specifically to chatbots marketed as providing mental health therapy or treatment, directly affecting operators and users in Louisiana.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareRequires AI chatbot transparency, crisis protocols, and data privacy protections to safeguard mental health users, directly strengthening patient safety and trust in digital healthcare services.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates AI chatbots to protect user data privacy (bans unauthorized health data sharing) and requires transparency/disclosure - directly aligns with data privacy protections in support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Mental Health Artificial Intelligence

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